Pirates 6, Dodgers 5
PITTSBURGH -- Pitcher Francisco Liriano hit the first home run of his 10-year career and hot-hitting Andrew McCutchen went 3-for-3 as the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5 on Saturday.
Liriano hit a three-run shot in the second inning in his 160th career at-bat to put the Pirates ahead 4-2. However, the left-hander could not hold the lead, as he wound up allowing four runs in only three innings.
McCutchen, the All-Star center fielder, is 13-for-29 (.448) with nine RBIs and 10 runs scored in his last nine games. He has been on base in 14 of his last 18 plate appearances.
Second baseman Neil Walker had two hits for the Pirates, including a home run.
The Dodgers closed to within a run on left fielder Scott Van Slyke's RBI double with one out in the ninth inning, but closer Mark Melancon held on for his major league-leading 35th save in 36 opportunities.
Right fielder Yasiel Puig was originally ruled safe on a throwing error by third baseman Aramis Ramirez after Van Slyke's double but was called out following a video review.
Center fielder Joc Pederson then walked before Melancon struck out catcher Yasmani Grandal to end it.
The Pirates (64-44) won for the 13th time in their last 16 games at PNC Park and improved to 33-14 against National League West teams over the last two seasons.
Pittsburgh maintained a four-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the NL wild card standings.
Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez had three hits, while Van Slyke had two hits and two RBIs, second baseman Howie Kendrick and third baseman Alex Guerrero had two hits each and center fielder Kike Hernandez hit a two-run home run.
The Dodgers (62-48) lost for the only the second time in nine games and remained three games ahead of the San Francisco Giants in the NL West.
Los Angeles is only 23-31 against the NL Central and 2-7 versus the Pirates over the last two seasons.
Right-handed reliever Joe Blanton (3-2) pitched three scoreless innings to earn his first win since the Pirates acquired him from the Kansas City Royals in a trade July 30.
Right-hander Mat Latos (4-8) was tagged for six runs and seven hits in four innings in his second start for the Dodgers since a July 30 trade with the Miami Marlins that also included the Atlanta Braves. He walked one and had no strikeouts.
Latos allowed only one run in six innings in his Dodgers' debut last Sunday, a no decision against the Los Angeles Angels.
The Pirates pulled in front for good, 6-4, with a two-run third. McCutchen doubled and scored on shortstop Jung Ho Kang's ground out before Walker hit his 11th home run.
Hernandez's fourth home run tied the game in the top of the third.
Van Slyke and McCutchen traded RBI singles in the first inning and Los Angeles went ahead 2-1 the top of the second on Gonzalez's run-scoring single.
Liriano put the Pirates on top 4-2 with his home run, an opposite-field drive to left, in the bottom of the second.
Liriano became the second Pirates pitcher to hit a home run this season, as right-hander A.J. Burnett connected against the St. Louis Cardinals on July 11.
The last time two Pirates pitchers homered in the same year was 2003, when Kip Wells and Jeff D'Amico went deep.
NOTES: RHP Vance Worley, who was designated for assignment on July 30, has cleared waivers and the Pirates hope he will accept an assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis. If he goes to Indianapolis, Worley will be used as a starter. ... Dodgers LHP Alex Wood (7-7, 3.65 ERA) starts against Pirates RHP Charlie Morton (7-4, 4.19 ERA) on Sunday night in the finale of the three-game series.